Special Election to Replace Strama Set for Nov. 5

State Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, talks with colleagues in the Texas House on Feb. 13, 2013. Strama announced that he's not seeking re-election next term.

The race to serve out the remainder of former state Rep. Mark Strama's current term got an official election date Thursday as Gov. Rick Perry set a Nov. 5 special election.

Known for his work on education and clean-technology issues, Strama, D-Austin, announced in February that he was leaving his House seat. Strama, who had considered a run for Austin mayor, announced in June that he had accepted a position leading Austin's Google Fiber operations. Google announced in April that Austin would be among the first places to try out the high-speed internet service.

With Strama's departure looming on the horizon for several months, the field of candidates vying to take his House District 50 seat already begun to fill up. Early hopefuls to announce included businesswoman Jade Chang Sheppard, associate municipal court judge Ramey Ko, prosecutor Rico Reyes and Celia Israel, a former aide to Gov. Ann Richards.

“They are all really good candidates, and the district will be served by any of them,” Strama told Texas Weekly in May.

Potential candidates have until Sept. 4 to file applications for their bids to serve out the remainder of Strama's term, which ends in January 2014. Early voting will occur from Oct. 21 through Nov. 1.

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